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| Oratoire du Louvre |
Location: 147 Rue Saint Honore
English translation
"This was the site of the first Porte St-Honoré, built into Philippe Auguste's wall. On December 27, 1594, Jean Châtel attempted to kill Henri IV, who was living with Gabrielle d'Estrées in the Hôtel du Bouchage built on the site of this gate; he succeeded only in splitting his upper lip and breaking a tooth. This hotel was sold in 1616 to the congregation of the Fathers of the Oratory (Pères de l'Oratoire), newly founded by Pierre de Bérulle. In 1621, Métezeau began construction of their church, completed in 1630 by Le Mercier. The façade was completed by Caqué around 1750. Destroyed when the Rue de Rivoli was built in 1854, the convent buildings occupied the quadrangle formed by Rue de l'Oratoire, Rue Saint-Honoré, Rue de Marengo and Rue Louvre." (Translated by DeepL and ChatGPT)
Background notes
- The first Porte Saint-Honoré was a gate built in the early 13th century as part of the Philippe Auguste wall (constructed between 1190 and 1215). However, by the time of the Hundred Years' War between England and France (1337-1453), Paris had grown, and its defences were outdated, making a new gate and wall necessary. The second Porte Saint-Honoré was built in 1380 (further west on Rue Saint Honore) as part of the Charles V enclosure to strengthen the city's defences against the English threat. (See plaque 21).
- Jean Châtel was a 19-year-old Catholic extremist student. He attempted to assassinate Henri IV on December 27, 1594, due to the king's Protestant background, despite Henri's conversion to Catholicism in 1593 ("Paris is well worth a mass") (see plaque 31). Henri IV's assassination attempt reflected widespread opposition to the king among radical Catholics (he was later assasinated in 1610 - see plaque 28).
- Gabrielle d'Estrées (1573-1599) was Henri IV's famous mistress from 1591 to 1599, and the mother of three of his children. Henri was married to Marguerite de Valois at this time, but they lived separately and their marriage was later annulled in 1599, allowing him to marry Marie de’ Medici in 1600.
- The Pères de l'Oratoire (Oratorians) were a congregation of secular priests founded in 1611 by Pierre de Bérulle, Henri IV’s chaplain. Bérulle (1575-1629) was an important French cardinal and mystic who strongly opposed the French Protestants (Huguenots) and played a significant role in the Catholic Counter Reformation in France. The Oratorians focused on education and reform within the Catholic Church.
- Clément II Métezeau (1581-1652), a prominent French architect, began construction of the church in 1621. It was completed in 1630 by Jacques Le Mercier (1585-1654), a notable architect who worked on major projects including the Palais Cardinal (the Palais Royal) and the Palais du Louvre. The oratory became the royal chapel of the Louvre Palace under the reign of Louis XIII (r. 1610-1643), and both Louis XIII’s and Cardinal Richelieu’s funerals were held there.
- Pierre Caqué, an 18th century architect, completed the church's facade around 1750.
- The Oratorians were abolished in 1792, along with other religious orders as part of the French Revolution. Their convent and church on Rue Saint Honoré was confiscated. Although the French Oratorians were restored in 1852 under a new name, their convent and church were never returned.
- During the Revolution, the church was used as a meeting and storage place, and its religious symbols including paintings and architecture were ransacked and damaged. In 1800 the newly created Bank of France briefly moved into the empty convent buildings.
- The convent buildings were demolished in 1854 for the construction of the Rue de Rivoli. The church, however, survived and is still standing today as the Oratoire du Louvre.
- The Rue de Rivoli project was initially conceived under Napoleon I as part of his broader urban planning vision for Paris. However, the main construction and development of the street occurred during the reign of Napoleon III, particularly under the extensive urban renewal efforts led by Baron Haussmann in the mid-19th century.
- Since 1811, the Oratoire du Louvre church has been used as a Protestant church (Temple protestant de l'Oratoire du Louvre). It's located near the Louvre museum and is still an active place of worship.